Tropical storm rises in Pacific

MEXICO CITY » Tropical Storm Flossie formed yesterday far out in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Mexico's southern Pacific coast and Hawaii.

The storm's wind speeds were about 39 mph, the

National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

Ordnance no threat on Molokai

Ordnance found Tuesday at a landfill in Central Molokai poses no immediate threat, officials from the Army said yesterday after a bomb-disposal detail made an on-site inspection.

Maui County officials said the landfill is scheduled to reopen today.

The munitions found were decommissioned and appear to be scrap metal from practice rockets and bombs, similar to those found July 30, officials added.*

Schools get more than $13.5M

The state released more than $13.5 million yesterday for construction and renovation at five Oahu schools, with most of the money paying for new libraries at Hickam and Waialua elementary schools.

With $7.6 million, Hickam Elementary also will get a new administration building and upgrades to its telecommunications equipment. Its projects are schedule to be completed in December 2008, Gov. Linda Lingle said.

Waialua Elementary will use another large chunk of the funds, $3.5 million, to build a new library and a media center by August 2008.

OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE:

» $1.2 million for design and construction of new offices, conference rooms and restrooms at Aiea High School.

» $685,000 for three portable classrooms and telecommunications and power upgrades at Dole Middle School.

» $450,000 for playground equipment for first- and second-graders at Nanaikapono Elementary School as well as construction of a shaded area with tables and benches for outdoor meetings.

On Tuesday, the state released $600,000 to build two temporary classrooms at Waimea Elementary on the Big Island and one classroom at Ewa Elementary on Oahu.

The schools need the classrooms to handle an increase in enrollment, Lingle said. The classrooms are scheduled to be ready in November.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

Police use stun-gun on driver

Police used pepper spray and an electric Taser gun to subdue a 33-year-old man who allegedly used his car to ram his ex-girlfriend's car while she and her children were inside.

Police said the man, who listed a Honokai Hale address, was driving along Kailua Road near Ulukahiki Street near Castle Hospital at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday when he saw his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend driving her car.

He chased her and then rammed his car into the front of hers, police said. The ex-girlfriend's children, a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, were in the car, police said, but no one was hurt.

When officers arrived the suspect was aggressive and combative, police said. Officers used pepper spray to subdue him, and when that did not work, they used a Taser gun, police said.

The suspect was then arrested for investigation of first-degree criminal property damage and resisting arrest.

EAST OAHU

Chinese woman missing since July

Police are looking for a missing 24-year-old Chinese woman who was last seen at 2 p.m. July 31 leaving a Hawaii Kai home where she was staying for the summer.

Liu Liu, known by English speakers as "Crystal," is a graduate student in computer science at the University of Hawaii, a family friend said.

Police said she has not been seen or heard from since July 31.

Liu, described by a family friend as generally cheerful and outgoing, is believed to have been distraught recently.

She had planned to go to Maui sometime but did not say when she was leaving.

Liu is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes, and weighing 100 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.

HONOLULU

Men hit police car in attempt to flee

Police arrested three men who were caught in a stolen rental car that collided with a police vehicle.

Police said that at 5:26 p.m. Tuesday, a police lieutenant saw the car driving on the grass in a Moiliili park. The lieutenant checked the license plate of the vehicle and learned the car had been reported stolen from a rental car company at the airport.

The car took off, but was spotted at Young and McCully streets by other officers, police said.

As officers tried to pull the car over, it collided with a patrol vehicle during an attempt to get away, police said.

Police arrested the driver of the car, 40, who has no local address, for investigation of auto theft and criminal property damage.

A 30-year-old passenger in the car, of Kalihi, was arrested for investigation of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and drug violations after officers found him carrying suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia, police said.

A 49-year-old man in the car was also arrested, police said. It was not clear what charges he faced.

The officer driving the car that was hit was not hurt, police said.

WEST OAHU

Police chase down 2 in stolen vehicle

Police arrested two men who allegedly damaged a police vehicle with a stolen car.

Police said undercover officers were staking out a stolen parked car in Waipahu at about 8:30 Tuesday night when two men got inside the car and drove away.

Officers followed the men to the drive-through lane at the Waipahu Jack in the Box restaurant, 94-866 Moloalo St., and pulled up behind the stolen car, police said.

When the officers identified themselves, the driver of the stolen car reversed into the police vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed, police said.

Patrol officers found the car later and stopped it without incident, police said.

The men inside, both 24, were arrested for investigation of auto theft, first-degree criminal property damage, drug violations and identity theft.

LEEWARD OAHU

Student arrested for threats, assault

Police arrested a student at a Leeward-area school yesterday morning after he allegedly hit an employee.

The youth was held on suspicion of second-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening.

A 22-year-old employee of the school reported pain after allegedly being hit by the student at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, police said.

Police also arrested the student on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening for allegedly threatening a 50-year-old man.

CORRECTION

Saturday, August 11, 2007

» A cleanup in 2004 of military debris from the Papohaku Ranchland subdivision on Molokai was at a separate location from the Molokai landfill where ordnance were found recently. A "Newswatch" item on Page A3 Thursday incorrectly said that the recent discovery was part of the 2004 cleanup.